Solarly impulses of Bertrand Piccard founder program on behalf of the maiden flight a crucial step to the fulfillment of its goal of circumnavigating the world in so unusual airplanes. In an explanation from the team of solarly impulse, Piccard it said was relieved, around which after seven years of hard work locked first flight.

" This first flight was for me a very intensive Zeit" , Test pilot Markus Scherdel, said after the withdrawal from the Solarflugzeug' s podlike cockpit. During the flight, main header HB-SIA off with scarcely 30 km/h and relatively short start to be implemented. The four 10-HP electric motors are expected, around sufficient energy for a cruising speed of approximately 40 to 45 hourly miles to supply. No, solarly impulses one does not set no speed records.

The wingspan of the HB-SIA is 208 meters that about 10 meters more than of Boeing 787 the Dreamliner is. But the airplane weighs only 3,500 £ for the flight loaded, over £ 499,000 less than the 787. After more flight testing with the sun switching on HB-SIA on, solarly impulse team hopes, night tests would drive through can later in this year. While these flights, the team will examine the vitality the schedule, which they use for the round around the world flight. The plan is, in higher situations in the course of the daily rises, and the trade that for the height of the airspeed, with battery supplements, continue to fly during the night. They expect to fly that 36-Stunden-Schichten.

" We have to put back still another long way, until the night flights and a still longer way before the flight around the world go, but today, owing to the unusual work of a whole team, a substantial step was met for the implementation of our vision, " Piccard said in the report from the team. The round around the world flight will presumably take place in the year 2012 with an updated version of the HB-SIA. The flight effected in several stages with changing pilots take regularly and a team on the ground regard a watchful eye on weather as the sensitive airplane.